Zebre Team Announcement for Dragons game

After the good performance of last Friday game in Belfast versus the RaboDirect PRO12 leaders Ulster, the technical staff tried to confirm as much the line-up. The only losses are due to the injury of Australian fly-half Halangahu- who left the Ravenhill field after 38 minutes- and to the selections of the national team of Italy: 7 Zebre players spent the whole week in Rome preparing the 3rd round of the RBS Six Nations against Wales tomorrow at Stadio Olimpico. The technical director of Italy Jacques Brunel released only Buso as he wasn't selected into the 23. The full-back will sit on the bench alongside with two of the three permit players conceded by the main Italian league teams : winger Bacchetti (Rugby Rovigo, 1 cap with Zebre Vs Warriors two weeks ago) and scrum-half Palazzani (Rugby Calvisano).

Ready to start after his start from the bench at Ravenhill is one of the key players of Zebre : south African number 8 Van Schalkwyk who's team top tackler (83), ball carrier (77), lineout winner (51) and linebreaker (7) this season. At his side there won't be Bergamasco, selected with Italy, but Sole and Ferrarini. The Parmesan flanker is back in action after a week of rest. The forwards pack is completed by front rowers Aguero, Festuccia and Redolfini and by the second row couple Van Vuren-Bortolami at the its third straight selection.

Along the backs Pace makes his return at centre pairing with Pratichetti: the roman is still in search of the first try in front of the home crowd of XXV Aprile stadium of Parma after its only try at Parc Y Scarlets. On the wing speed and crowd applauses are guaranteed by the couple Sinoti and Sarto: the young paduan born winger will face the other twenty years old- the Welsh Prydie- in one of the most awaited clash of the game. The back triangle is completed by Benettin while on the halves Chiesa will start wearing the number 10 shirt- as it happened in Llanelli last November- while Chillon will start at scrum-half.

Here's Zebre Rugby line-up for Sunday game at Stadio XXV Aprile in Parma facing the Dragons in the 16th Round of the RaboDirect PRO12 :

15 Alberto BENETTIN*
14 Leonardo SARTO*
13 Samuele PACE*
12 Matteo PRATICHETTI
11 Sinoti SINOTI
10 Alberto CHIESA*
9 Alberto CHILLON*
8 Andries VAN SCHALKWYK
7 Josh SOLE
6 Filippo FERRARINI*
5 Marco BORTOLAMI (cap)
4 Michael VAN VUREN
3 Luca REDOLFINI
2 Carlo FESTUCCIA
1 Matias AGUERO

Replacements :
16 Andrea MANICI*
17 Andrea DE MARCHI
18 Carlo FAZZARI*
19 Emiliano CAFFINI*
20 Filippo CRISTIANO
21 Guglielmo PALAZZANI
22 Paolo BUSO
23 Andrea BACCHETTI

Coach. Christian GAJAN

* Former member of the Italian Rugby Union academy "Ivan Francescato" of Tirrenia.

Not available for selection through injury : Nicola CATTINA, Filippo CAZZOLA*, Daniel HALANGAHU, Luca MARTINELLI*, Roberto QUARTAROLI*, Tito TEBALDI , Ruggero TREVISAN*

Referee: Leo Colgan (IRFU, 10th competition game) 2nd with Zebre after the home game Vs Cardiff Blues

Assistant Referees: Andrea Spadoni, Simone Boaretto (both FIR)
Citing Commissioner: Roberto Carra (FIR)
TMO: Alan Falzone (FIR)

Delayed coverage on Sportitalia 2 at 5 pm Italian time